(4 / 5)
The Boneshakers 11th studio album “Live To Be This”, will be released on July 18th, via Gulf Coast Records, distributed by Proper Music.
This pleasing album showcasing the band’s signature blues, soul and rock energy, is fuelled by the powerhouse vocals of Jenny Langer, [who joined as lead vocalist in 2020], and the masterful guitar work of Randy Jacobs of Was (Not Was).
The Boneshakers have been a musical force for more than 27 years and throughout their lengthy career have collaborated with legends such as Bonnie Raitt, BB King, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Iggy Pop. Their most recent album “One Foot In The Groove” debuted at number one on the US soul-blues chart and the UK blues radio chart.
Produced by John Wooler, the visionary behind their ’90s breakout on Virgin Records “Book of Spells”, this bumper 15-track album is a soulful journey through originals penned by Jacobs and Langer, and reimagined tributes to iconic artists such as Screaming Jay Hawkins, Betty Davis, Iggy Pop, Jimmy Hall and Ike and Tina Turner.
The album features special guests including blues harmonica star Charlie Musselwhite, Grammy-winning producer/ bassist Don Was, former Bluesbreaker guitarist Coco Montoya, Grammy-winning saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter, John ‘Papa” Gros, and Ron Holloway.
“Live To Be This” is a celebration of The Boneshakers’ legacy symbolising the band’s mastery of combining Detroit soul with the musical influences of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, a sound that has earned them an international loyal following.
The first two tracks to be lifted from the new album for single release, is “I’ll Kick A Brick (For My Man)”, followed by the current single, “Salty”, featuring three-time Grammy winner Bobby Rush.
“This album is a love letter to the music that shaped us; gritty, soulful, and alive,” says Jenny. “In a world of digital perfection, ‘Live To Be This’ is all about real musicians playing with feeling, and we couldn’t be more excited to have some of our favourite artists joining in on the fun as special guests.”
Randy adds, “Little did I know that Jenny and I would find ourselves in such great company via Mike Zito’s very cool Gulf Coast Records. Just beautiful, positive energy pouring from all involved, living for music and the musicians. A great new home for the Boneshakers”.
The horns’ performance and arrangements – Ron Holloway and Joe Sublett on sax’, and Mark Pender on trumpet – add huge value to this record, especially on the groove-nailin’ opener “I’ll Kick A Brick (For My Man)”, on the funky “They Say I’m Different”, and on the heartfelt blues ballad, “Tears Of The World”.
The first brace of tracks have the same kind of raunchy lead vocals that put me in mind of Anna Mae Bullock, aka the late and the great Ms. Tina Turner.
Joe Sublett [I so want Joe to be a real estate landlord with that name!] on brass joins up with Mark Pender on harmonica on “I Need Somebody”. Talking of harmonica aka blues “harp”, legendary Charlie Musselwhite spits licks on the hard-hitting blues anthem “Evil No More”.
Another blues legend, in the form of Bobby Rush, delivers a sweet duet with Jenny Langer on “Salty”. Jenny also shares vocals on the slide Dobro driven jam, “Dobro Jones (Delta Mix”, this time with her partner in crime Randy Jacobs. By the way, RJ is one heck of a guitar player.
Coco Montoya and Jimmy Carpenter both go above and beyond for their solos on guitar and sax’ respectively, on “Don’t Deny Me”. Mr Pender’s fiery trumpet solo adds spice to “I Am The Cool”, and track 13 keeps up the funk and the groovin’ with “Ain’t Good Enough For Me”.
The album is expertly performed and produced, but….for my taste it is maybe three tracks too long and loses a little momentum perhaps. That said, it is always all about personal taste when it comes to music of course, and others may well think all 15 cuts are superb.
I’ll tell you what is superb, the lead vocal and the control Jenny has on the closing cut, “The Candle And The Cake”…
A gorgeous ballad where Jenny doesn’t need to belt out the powerhouse vocals as is necessary on much of this set. On this ballad she serves the material so well;, you get to hear every little nuance in her voice. If like me you are an admirer of Vinegar Joe and Elkie Brooks, you’ll get why I praise this track and this vocal so much.
I awarded the record four out of five stars for this review, and in our star system that equals = “Super Zone”. [1 = Dull, 2 = OK, 3 = Decent, 4 = Super and 5 = Awesome].
Yes, “Live To Be This” is super indeed and well worth seeking out…
- The band tour the UK in September and October this year, see the tour poster above [More dates may have been added since the poster was produced].
Words: Christopher Weston
(1 / 5) ‘Dull Zone’
(2 / 5) ‘OK Zone’
(3 / 5) ‘Decent Zone’ (4 / 5) ‘Super Zone’
(5 / 5) ‘Awesome Zone’
